DRIVERS WANTED
Legislators raise awareness for bus driver demand
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. » To demonstrate the need for bus drivers in the Shenendehowa School District, state Sen. Kathy Marchione and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh got behind the steering wheel of two of the district’s buses Tuesday and showed they had the skills to handle the big vehicles.
The state legislators were on the Shen campus in Clifton Park to publicize state-wide need for drivers.
Marchione, R-Halfmoon, and Walsh, RBallston Spa, joined 32 potential applicants at the district’s transportation facility for an early morning test run in full size buses on the campus roads.
Prior to getting into the big seat, they and the others, were given a brief introduction of the job, what it entails and a few helpful hints on what to expect upon getting behind the wheel.
Shen has 207 buses in total and 195 drivers. All but 39 of the drivers are part-time. In his brief remarks to the potential applicants Shen Transportation Director Alfred Karam made it clear that the district is looking for substitute drivers.
“Our mission is to provide safe, efficient, and effective transportation,” he said. “All of our bus drivers start out as substitute bus drivers. This is a union job so you have to go through the pecking order. The pay is $19.39 per hour for substitutes. Benefits start at four hours per day, 20 hours per week. Our average driver gets 26 to 36 hours per pay period.”
Karam went on to explain about required background checks, training time, mandatory safety meetings, and recertification requirements.
He was followed by Shen bus driver and New York State Department of Education certified school bus driver instructor Valerie Parker who described what to expect when driving one of the buses.
“It’s a lot like driving a car,” she said. “The biggest differences are the air brakes and the length. You must leave 35 feet behind you. That’s the big difference between a bus and your car.”
Marchione and Walsh sat with the others quietly listening to the remarks. Then it was time to take the wheel.
Certified instructors took groups of seven or eight out to the buses which were lined up in front of the district aquatic center. Walsh stepped up and got into the driver’s seat in one while Marchione did the same in another. With the instructor’s standing nearby they closed the doors, put the automatic transmissions in reverse, slowly backed up, and headed off around the campus at the designated speed of 15 mph.
“What a great opportunity,” said Walsh upon her return. “After today I have the utmost respect for bus drivers. I’ve never even driven anything bigger than my car. The experience was amazing. That’s a big vehicle and you feel it.”
Walsh said she thought she did pretty well. She didn’t hit any curbs and took the speed bumps well.
Marchione, who has driven trucks and trailers, drove her bus in a few minutes later.
“It was a great experience, like driving a car,” she said. “Driving vehicles and being around them is natural for me. Turning was a little different and stopping was a little different than stopping a car. You really have to stop, not just slow down.”
Expanding on what it was that brought her out to the Shen facility Marchione referenced the growing need for high quality school bus drivers.
“I hope this opportunity for myself and others will culminate in having good bus drivers at Shen,” she said. “That’s what this has been about, encouraging other people who have a passion for taking our most precious cargo, greet them with a smile, bring them to school and get them there safely.”
Karam explained how the rigors of the screening process narrow the pool of potential applicants.
“People retire, move away, leave for family reasons and we have to replace those folks,” he said. “You have to have a clean license, a clean background and be of good moral integrity, plus, you start as a substitute and work your way up. It could take a couple years. We have to have all these things and when you put everything together your pool of applicants shrinks. It’s not a good fit for everyone. But the district does have good benefits and in today’s world they’re gold. And, it’s a great way to serve the community.”
Anyone considering driving for Shen should call: 518-881-0240.